Method of dispensing labels

ABSTRACT

There are disclosed various embodiments of a composite web of pressure sensitive labels, method and apparatus for making such embodiments of the composite web, and method and apparatus by which a composite web of labels is advanced and by which labels are successively printed and applied to merchandise.

United States Patent Jenkins Dec. 3, 1974 1 1 METHOD OF DISPENSINGLABELS [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: William A. Jenkins,Englewood, UNITED STATES PATENTS Ohio 2,259,358 10/1941 Templeton 282/20R 3,265,553 8/1966 Kind et al. 156/384 [73] Asslgnee' Monarch f Systems3,491,877 1/1970 Viker et al 161/149 3,501,365 3/1970 Marshall 156/28322 Filed; June 4 973 3,551,262 12/1970 Kelly 156/584 3,686,055 8/1972Hermann 156/384 [21] Appl. No.: 366,918 3,705,833 12/1972 Wada 156/384,Related US. Application Data P E Ch I E v H nmary xammerares an em [60]25 P 1 1971 Assistant Examiner-F. Frisenda, Jr.

wh1ch 1s a continuanon-m-part of Ser. No. J h J G 155,740, June 23,1971, abandoned. oseP [52] US. Cl 156/250, 156/344, 156/510, [57]ABSTRACT 156/584, 161/38, 161/112, 161/ There are disclosed variousembodiments of a com- [51] Int. Cl 1332b 3/10 posite b of pressureSensitive labels, method and [58] Field Of Search 156/344, 168, 250,584,

156/577, 252, 247, 254, DIG. 47-DIG. 49, DIG. 33; 206/389, 390; l6l/l49,406, 38, 39, 111, 113, 112; 282/20 R, 15 A, 226/129, 133, 156

paratus for making such embodiments of the composite web, and method andapparatus by which a composite web of labels is advanced and by whichlabels are successively printed and applied to merchandise.

2 Claims, 69 Drawing Figures PATENTEU E 3 i 4 SHEET 0 7 OF 13 PATENIEU35E 3%974 SHEET USUF 13 METHOD OF DISPENSING LABELS CROSS-REFERENCE TORELATED APPLICATIONS pending U.S. application Ser. No. 205,854 filedDec. 8,

1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,106, copending U.S. application Ser. No.208,035 filed Dec. 8, 1971, now abandoned, and copending U.S.application Ser. No. 366,826, filed June 4, 1973 andwhich are assignedto the same assignee as the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to the art of pressure sensitive labels, method and apparatusfor making and using same, and label printing and applying machines.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Various U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,642,387,2,259,358, 2,275,064, 2,502,257, 2,516,487, 2,620,205, 2,656,063,3,051,353, 3,265,553, 3,343,485, 3,440,123, 3,501,365, 3,551,251, and.3,611,929 and British Pat. No. 1,057,126, Feb. 1, 1967 are made ofrecord.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to method of dispensinglabels which comprises the steps of providing a plurality of labelsreleasably secured by-pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of supportingmaterial, the web having spaced apart groups of cuts disposed within theedges of the web with each group of cuts comprising at least two cutslongitudinally spaced apart by a frangible portion. In the preferredarrangement, one of the cuts of each group provides a feed edge andanother cut and the frangible portion represents the preferred method ofweakening the web adjacent and specifically downstream of the respectivefeed edge. The web is caused to undergo a sharp change in direction at apeel edge where labels are successively delaminated with respect to theweb. From there, the delaminated part of the web is guided intocooperation with a toothed driver. The toothed driver severs thefrangible portion by means of an advancing tooth, then the tooth pullson the delaminated part of the web to advance the composite web toeffect delamination of a label.

The method of dispensing labels also comprises, in another embodiment,providing a plurality of labels releasably secured by pressure sensitiveadhesive to a 'web of supporting material, the web having straight ispulled by the advancing toothed driver to effect delamination of a labelat the delaminating zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF-THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showingmethod and apparatus by which one embodiment of a composite web oflabels is advanced and by which labels are successively printed andapplied to merchandise;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the composite web of labels shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the labels, shown in FIGS. 1 and2, applied to merchandise;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view showing the composite web being advanced by atoothed driver with the web of supporting material;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the composite, webof labels;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of yet another embodiment of the compositeweb of labels;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of the compositeweb of labels;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line l212 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view taken along line 1313, showing oneside edge of the composite web;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing method and apparatus by which thecomposite web shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 is advanced and by whichlabels are successively printed and applied to merchandise;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the composite web oflabels; I

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the composite web of labels takenalong line 16-16 of FIG. 15, showing one side edge of the composite web;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing method and apparatus by which thecomposite web shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 is advanced using a relativelysmall toothed driver and showing how labels are printed and applied tomerchandise;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing method and apparatus by whichlabels can be printed and applied to merchandise using a composite webin accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the compositeweb shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-9 can be made;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the manner in whichthe cuts are formed in the label material and the supporting material bycutters shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the method by which the compositeweb of the embodiments of FIGS. 11 through 18 can be made;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the manner in whichthe cuts are made in the label material and the supporting material bythe cutters shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a partly broken away .top plan view of another embodiment ofthe composite web of pressuresensitive labels;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a fragmentary portion of a tootheddriver and supporting material of the composite web according to FIG.23;

FIG. 25 is a partly broken away top plan view of another embodiment ofthe composite web of pressuresensitive labels; 1

FIG. 26 is a partly broken away top plan view of another embodiment ofthe composite web of pressuresensitive labels;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing a fragmentary portion of a tootheddriver and supporting material of the composite web according to FIG.26;

FIG. 28 is a partly broken away top plan view of another embodiment ofthe composite web of pressuresensitive labels;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing a fragmentary portion of a tootheddriver and supporting material of the composite web according to FIG.28;

FIG. 30 is a partly broken away top plan view of another embodiment ofthe composite web of pressuresensitive labels;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing a fragmentary portion of a tootheddriver and supporting material of the composite web according to FIG.30;

FIG. 32 is a partly broken away top plan view of another embodiment ofthe composite web of pressuresensitive labels, like the embodiments ofFIGS. 1

through 9, but having an additional group of cuts midway between the endedges of the labels;

FIG. 33 is a partly broken away top plan view of another embodiment ofthe composite web of pressuresensitive labels;

FIG. 34 is a partly broken away top plan view of another embodiment ofthe composite web of pressuresensitive labels in which the cuts extendonly partly throughthe label material;

FIG. 35 is a sectional view taken along line 35-35 of FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 35, but showing perforationcuts entirely through the label material at spaced apart locations;

FIG. 37 is 'an exploded perspective view of label printing and applyingapparatus for carrying out the method of the invention;

FIG. 38 is a sectional elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG.37;

. FIG. 39 is a sectional view taken generally along line 39-39 of FIG.38;

FIG. 40 is a sectional view taken along line 40-40 of FIG. 38;

FIG. 41 is a sectional view taken along line 41-41 of FIG. 38;

FIG. 42 is a side elevational view of one of the subframe sections ofthe apparatus;

FIG. 43 is a top plan view taken along line 43-43 of FIG. 42;

FIG. 44 is a side elevational view of the other sub- FIG. 47 is asectional view taken generally along line 47-47 of FIG. 38;

FIG. 48 is an exploded perspective view of the inking mechanism;

FIG. 49 is an enlarged sectional view showing a fragmentary portion ofthe apparatus in solid lines, and in particular showing a fragmentaryportion of the print head and the inking mechanism is both solid andphantom line positions;

FIG. 50 is a sectional view taken along line 50-50 of FIG. 39;

FIG. 51 is a developed view showing the arrangement of the teeth of thedetent mechanism;

FIG. 52 is a sectional view taken along line 52-52 of FIG. 50;

FIG. 53 is a sectional view taken generally along line 53-53 of FIG. 50;

FIG. 54 is a sectional view showing one of the three sets of snap-fitconnections used to interconnect the frame and the sub-frame;

FIG. 55 is an enlarged view of an applicator roll shown mounted in theframe of the apparatus;

FIG. 56 is a sectional view taken along line 56-56 of FIG. 55;

FIG. 57 is a sectional view taken along line 5757 of FIG. 56, butomitting the shaft and the frictional member;

FIG. 58 is a partly sectional view of the mountin shaft which forms partof the applicator roll;

FIG. 59 is an exploded perspective view of the print head;

FIG. 60 is a sectional view of the print head taken generally along line60-60 of FIG. 38;

FIG. 61 is a sectional view showing the selector in relationship to theassociated driven wheels;

FIG. 62 is an enlarged sectional view showing the manner in whichdetenting of the selector is effected, but showing the driven members asbeing of different widths;

FIG. 63 is a view similar to a fragmentary portion of FIG. 61, butshowing the manner in which detenting can be effected directly on awheel;

FIG. 64 is an enlarged, partly sectional, elevational view showing analternative arrangement for constructing the selector;

FIG. 65 is a perspective view showing the driving member depicted inFIG. 64;

FIG. 66 is a partly exploded perspective view of a modified print headin accordance with the invention, which is adapted to print and applylabels such as shown in FIG. 32 or 33;

FIG. 67 is an exploded perspective view of the selector in associationwith type wheels and mounting structure for the type wheels;

FIG. 68 is an end elevational view of the type wheels and the selectorassembled in the mounting members;

- and FIG. 69 is a sectional view taken generally along line 69-69 ofFIG. 68.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 through 8, and in particular to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, there is showna composite web 30 of label material 31 releasably adhered to andcarried by supporting or backing material 32. The label material 31 iscut transversely by transverse cuts 33 extending all the way across theweb 31 of label material to the side edges 34 and 35 of the compositeweb 30, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The cuts 33 known as butt cutsseparate the web 31 of label material into a series of end-to-end labels36. The side edges of the label material as well as the supportingmaterial are straight and the label material is coextensive with thesupporting material.

The underside of the web 31 of label material has a coating of pressuresensitive adhesive 37 which adheres strongly to the web 31 of labelmaterial. The adhesive is shown to extend across the entire underside ofthe label material even to the side edges 34 and 35 of the web 30. Theweb 32 of supporting material carries a thin film or coating (not shown)which allows the labels to be peeled from the web 32 of supportingmaterial.

Groups 38 of cuts are provided at equally spaced apart intervals alongthe length of the composite web 30. Each group 38 of cuts is shown toextend through the supporting material as well as through the labelmaterial. Each group 38 of cuts is shown to be made in a generallyI-shaped configuration comprised of a straight longitudinal or verticalbar cut 39S in the supporting material and an aligned straightlongitudinal or vertical bar cut 39L in the label material. Spaced fromthe one ends of the vertical bar cuts 39S and 39L are straighttransverse or horizontal bar cuts 408 in the supporting material and 40Lin the label material. Spaced from the other ends of the vertical barcuts 39S and 39L are aligned straight transverse or horizontal bar cuts41S in the supporting material and straight transverse or horizontal barcuts 41L in the label material. The part of the web 32 between the oneend of the cut 39S and the cut 408 provides a frangible portion 43S andthe part of the web 32 between the other end of the cut 398 and the cut418 provides a frangible portion 42S. In like manner, the part of thelabel material between the end of the cut 39L and the cut 40L provides afrangible portion 43L and the part between the other end of the cut 39Land the cut 41L provides a frangible portion 42L. As a variation of theillustrated groups 38 of cuts, the cuts 40L and 408 can be omitted inwhich event the cut 39S will be extended by tearing as the tooth 48engages the web 32 at the cut 39S; this would result in groups of cutseach having a generally T-shaped configuration as shown in FIG. 25.

With reference now to FIG. 1, the composite web 30 is shown to be in theform of a roll which can be wound on a core 44, as desired. The core 44can receive a shaft 45 about which theroll is free to rotate in thedirection of arrow 46. The roll is wound in such a manner that the labelmaterial is on the outside in overlying re-' lationship with respect tothe web 32 of supporting material.

A toothed driver generally indicated at 47 is shown to be in the form ofa driven sprocket having teeth 48 disposed in a plane at equally spacedapart angular positions around the circumference of the driver 47. Thedriver 47 is used to advance the composite web first to a printing zoneat which a printer 48' and a platen 49 are disposed. A relatively sharppeel edge 50 is diagrammatically illustrated as being disposed at theterminal end of the platen. The web of supporting material 32 is drawnaround the peel edge 50 by the toothed driver 47. The edge 50 causes thesupporting material 32 to make an abrupt change in direction, therebyeffecting delamination or peeling of the supporting material 32 from onelabel 36 at a time as the web of supporting material is concomitantlyadvanced by the toothed driver 47. An applicator 51 is positioned beyondthe peel edge 50 and on the same side of the label as the printer 48'.The applicator 51 is shown to take the form of a conventional applicatorroll, however, other types of applicators such as a plunger, a presserfoot, or the like can be used, if desired. The composite web 30approaches the printing and applying zones generally in the direction ofan arrow 52, and after passing around the peel edge 50 the web 32 ofsupporting material advances generally in the direction of arrow 53 andpasses partially around a guide roller or shaft 54. From the guideroller 54, the web 32 passes partially around the toothed driver 47.From there the web 32 passes partially around a guide roller or shaft 55and from there the web 32 is guided by means of guides in the directionof the arrow 56. The toothed driver 47 is driven stepwise by a pawl andratchet mechanism so that upon operation of this mechanism the compositeweb 30 is advanced through the appropriate distance so that the labelscan be printed at one or more stages and so that a label is brought tothe applying zone at which the applicator 51 is effective to apply thedispensed label to merchandise M. The .web 32 passes between the outersurface of the toothed driver 47 and a guide or hold down plate 57 asshown in FIGS. 1, 6, 7 and 8. As the driver 47 rotates, successive teethengage successive groups of cuts in the web 32. As a tooth engages theweb 32 at a longitudinal cut 398 frangible portions 425 and 43S aresevered as by tearing to provide a feed hole 58. The feed hole 58 thusformed receives the tooth 48 and deflects flaps 59 and 59'.

As best seen in FIG. 7, the guide 57 has a concave section 60 with agroove 61 in the same plane as the teeth 48. The transversely extendingflaps 59 and 59' are shown to enter the groove 61 when the tooth 48 isin the feed hole 58. As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each tooth 48terminates at a sharp pointed end 62 which serves to facilitate severingof the frangible portions 42S and 438. The guide 57 has flanges 63 and64 which are in guiding engagement with edges 65 and 66 of the web 32.

The spacing of the teeth 48 around the periphery of the driver 47 is thesame as the spacing of the groups 38 of cuts lengthwise of the compositeweb 30. The teeth 48 are identical and only one is shown in detail inside elevation in FIG. '8. In FIG. 8, the tooth 48 is shown to haveinvolute contoured faces 67 and 68 which enable it to readily make afeed hole 58 in the web 32 which has passed partially around guiderollers 54 and to move out of the feed hole easily just before the web32 passes partially around the roller 55. As shown in FIG. 8 the face 67of the tooth 48 is shown to be in driving engagement with the leadingedge 69 of the feed hole 58. The face 68 of the tooth 48 is shown to beslightly spaced from trailing edge 70 of the feed hole.

The groups of cuts 38 do not substantially affect the integrity of theweb 32 until feed holes are made by the teeth of the driver, 47 or thelike. There are no flaps or lids as in the prior art which 'result inweakening of the web 32 at the delaminating zone where the strength ofthe web is particularly important. Also there are no flaps to result inpossible interference with the feeding of the web. In addition, thetypes of cuts forming the group 38 make it feasible for the compositeweb 30 to be fed in either direction with equal efficacy. With the priorart US. Pat. No. 3,501,365 to E. C. Marshall the composite web can befed in only one direction using the cut edge. The invention is notlimited to providing a group 38 of cuts across the marginal ends of eachlabel; while this is the preferred arrangement, the group 38 of cuts canextend across the marginal end of every other label, or the groups 38 ofcuts can be disposed within the periphery of each label or of everyother label, if desired.

The embodiment of the composite web 30A shown in FIG. 9 is identical tothe embodiment of the composite web 30 and is used in the same manner,except the composite web 30A has at least one short straight transversecut 80 in each marginal edge of each label 36a. There are, however, nocuts in the marginal edge of web 320 of supporting material. The cuts 80serve further to prevent switching of the labels 36a once they have beenapplied to merchandise.

The embodiment of the composite web 308 shown in FIG. 10 is identical tothe embodiment of the composite web A, except that the individual cutsof each group of longitudinally spaced apart groups 38b of cutsintersect. Specifically, the composite web 303 has a web 3112 of labelmaterial and a web 32b of supporting material. The web 32b of supportingmaterial has longitudinal or vertical bar cuts 908 which extend totransverse or horizontal bar cuts 918 and 928. The cuts 905, 918 and 92Sdefine transversely extending flaps or lids 93 and 94. The composite web308 can be delaminated Cuts 91L and 92L are made in the label materialsimul- I taneously with the making of the cuts 918 and 92S, andtherefore the cuts 91L and 92L are in alignment with respective cuts 918and 928. The cuts 90L, 91L and 92L in the label material provide agenerally T-shaped cut in each marginal end of each label 36B and hencetend to prevent switching of the labels once they have been applied tomerchandise.

Referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 11 through 14, there is shown acomposite web 30C comprised of a web of label material 31c. Transverseequally spaced apart cuts extend entirely across the web 31c of labelmaterial at equally spaced intervals to provide labels 36c. Spaced apartshort transverse cuts 1008 are formed in both marginal side edges of theweb 32c. Short straight transverse cuts 100L are disposed in eachmarginal side edge of the label material 310 in alignment withrespective cuts 1008 in the web 320 of supporting material. Each out1008 in the supporting material and the associated cut 100L in the labelmaterial are preferably made simultaneously with the same cutting blade.With reference to FIG. 14 a tootheddriver 470 is shown to be rotatingand in driving engagement with the web 320 of supporting material toeffect advance of the composite web 30C. As teeth 48c engage the web 320they effect deflection of flaps 101 facilitated by a pair of adjacentcuts 1005, one cut 1008 of each pair of cuts provides a drive face 102at the place where the leading edge of the respective tooth 48c engagesit.

Referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, composite web 30D isidentical to the composite web 30C in the embodiment of FIGS. 11 through14 except that both the label material 31d and the web 32d of supportingmaterial are provided with a group of at least three spaced apart cutsrather than a pair of spaced apart cuts. Specifically, transverseequally spaced apart groups of cuts 1108 are made in the web 32d ofsupporting material. Short transverse cuts 110L are disposed in eachmarginal side edge of the web 31d of label material in alignment withrespective cuts 1108 in the supporting material. Each cut 1108 in thesupporting material and the associated cut llOL in the label materialare preferably made simultaneously with the same cutting blade. Withreferensce to FIG. 17 a toothed driver 47d is shown to have asubstantially smaller diameter than the toothed driver 470 (FIG. 14).The composite web 30D is preferably made with at least three cuts inthat the toothed driver 47d has a small diameter and in that it iseasier for the flaps 111 formed by the cuts 1108 to be deflected as theweb 32d passes around the toothed driver 47d. Adjacent flaps 111 of agroup of flaps extend outwardly and make an acute angle with respect toeach other. The labels are indicated at 36d.

Referring now to FIG. 18, there is shown a composite web 3013' having aweb of label material 31e and a web 32e' of supporting material. The web32c is engaged by a toothed driver 47e having triangularly shaped teeth48e. Transverse equally spaced apart cuts 33e' extend entirely acrossthe web 31c of label material at equally spaced apart intervals toprovide labels 362. Spaced apart short transverse cuts 1208 are formedin both marginal side edges of the web 32e'. Short transverse cuts1201.. are formed in each marginal side edge of the label material 312'in alignment with respective v cuts 1208 in the web 32c. Each cut 1208in the supporting material and the associated cut L in the labelmaterial is preferably made simultaneously with the same cutting blade.The toothed driver 472' is shown to be rotating in driving engagementwith the web 32e' of supporting material to effect advance of thecomposite web 30E. The teeth 48e' effect deflection of flaps 112 andengage drive faces 113 at one side of each cut 1208.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20 there is shown a wide composite web 30AW,for example, for making the composite web 30A. The web 30AW is shownbeing advanced in the direction of arrow A. The composite web 30AW iscomprised of the label material 31a adhesively secured to a web 32a ofsupporting material passing between cutter roll having a plurality ofknives 131 and a cooperating backup roll 132. The knives 131 travel atthe same linear speed as the speed of the web 30AW and serve to cutthrough the web 31a of label material across its entire width of makethe cuts 33. A cutter roll 133 and abackup roll 134 are disposed beyondthe cutter roll 130 and the backup roll 132. As the composite web 30AWpasses between the cutter roll 133 and the backup roll 134, knife bladesor knives 135, 136 and 137 make transverse cuts 80 in only the web 31aof label material. Thereafter two lines of printing P are printed on theweb 31a by print drum 138 and a cooperating platen roll 139. From therethe composite web 30AW passes between a cutter roll 140 and acooperating platen roll 141. The cutter roll 140 has spaced apart groups38K of cutter blades or knives.

Each group 38K of cutter knives comprises a longitudinal or vertical barcut knife 39K, transverse or horizontal bar cut knife 40K and transverseor horizontal bar cut knife 41K. Each group 38K of knives makes onegroup of cuts 38a in the composite web A. As best shown in FIG. 20, theknives 39K, K and 41K cooperate with the platen roll 141 with zeroclearance. Accordingly, each of the knives 39K, 40K and 41K cut entirelythrough the web 31a and the web 32a, whereas knives 131 and 135, 136 and137 of the respective cutter rolls and 133 cut entirely through thelabel material 310 but not into the web 32a.

After passing between the cutter roll140 and the platen 141 thecomposite web 30AW is slit into a plurality of composite webs 30A bycooperating slitter elements 142 and 143. Each composite web 30A can nowbe formed into rolls.

Referring now to FIGS. 21 and 22, there is shown a composite web 30DWtraveling in the direction of arrow A1. The web 30DW passes betweencutter roll and platen roll 151. The cutter roll has spaced apart cutterblades or knives 152 for making cuts 33d at equally spaced apartintervals along the length of the web 30DW. Spaced beyond the cutterroll 150 and the platen 151 are cutter rolls 153 and a cooperatingplaten roll 154. The cutter roll 153 has groups of knives 110K formaking cuts 110L in the label material and for simultaneously makingcuts 1108 in the supporting material. Spaced beyond the cutter roll 153and the platen 'roll 154 are cooperating slitter elements. 155 and 156which slit the web 30DW into a plurality of composite webs 30D, andthese composite webs 30D can be formed into rolls. As esvident from FIG.22, a cutter blade 152 cuts only through the label material 31d and notinto the web 32d of supporting material. However, the cutter blades orknives 110K are set to zero clearance with respect to the platen roll154 so that each cut 1108 and its associated cut 110L are madesimultaneously by the respective knife 110K.

Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, there is shown acomposite web 30E which is identical to the composite web 30A (FIG. 9),except that the composite web 30E has a group 38e of cuts illustrated asbeing arranged in a generally T-shaped configuration. The group 38e ofcuts is shown to be comprised of a straight longitudinal or vertical barcut 1608 in FIG. 24 shows a fragmentary portion of a toothed driver 47shaving a tooth 166 of a generally triangular shape but having a driveface 167 curvedlike the drive face 67 of of driver 47. As a tooth 166initially engages the supporting material 161, it will cause rupture ofthe frangible portion 1648 and the tooth 166 will causetriangular-shaped flaps 1685 to be formed as best shown in FIG. 24. Onetooth 166 is shown to be in driving engagement with the web ofsupporting material 161 and the other tooth 166 is shown to be out ofengagement with the supporting material 161.

The embodiment of FIG. 25 is like the'embodiment of FIG. 23 in providinggenerally T-shaped groups 38f of cuts, except that with the compositeweb 30F, longitudinal or vertical bar cuts 1698 in supporting material170 meet transverse or horizontal bar cuts 1718. There are alignedlongitudinal or vertical bar cuts 169 L and transverse or horizontal barcuts 1711. in the label material 173. Transverse cuts 33f separate thelabel material 173 into labels 36f. Composite web 30F has short straighttransverse cuts 174' in each marginal side edge of the labels 36f. There-are, however, no cuts in the marginal side edges of thesupportingmaterial 170. The composite web 30F can be fed by the tootheddriver 47e shown in FIG. 24.

Although the arrangement of cuts disclosed in FIGS. 10 and 25 diminishesthe integrity of the web of supporting material, this construction issubstantially entirely free of the deficiency of folding a flap or chadout of the plane of' the web during. delamination as in U.S. Pat. No.3,501,365. Such folding. out of a flap causes some adhesive, or gum asit is known in the art, adhering to the edges of the flap or chad to bepulled away from the label material during delamination. In addition,such a folded out flap or chad will transfer the adhesive to guiding andfeeding: surfaces of the apparatus and flap can cause interference tofeeding when pulling on the web of supporting materialbymeans of atoothed driver.

Referring. to the embodiment of FIG. 26, there is shown a composite web30G. Each group 38g of cuts, is shown in a U-shaped arrangement, and iscomprised of transversely spaced apart longitudinal cuts 1758 and atransverse cut 1768 in the web of supporting material 177. The cuts 1755are spaced from and in alignment with the ends of the cut 1768. The partof the supportsupporting material 161 and an aligned straightlongitudinal or vertical bar cut 160L in-label material 162. Spaced fromthe one ends of the longitudinal cuts 160S and 160L are horizontal ortransverse bar cuts 1638 in supporting material 161 and 163L in labelmaterial 162. The part of the supporting material 161 between the oneend of the cut 1608 and the cut 1638 provides a frangible portion 1648and the part of the label material 162 between one end of the cut 160Land the cut 163L provides a frangible portion 164L. The label material162 is provided with transverse cuts 33e extending material 177 betweenthe ends of the cuts 1758 and the cut 1768 provide frangible portions1788'. Label material 179 has transversely spaced apart cuts 175L and atransverse cut 176L. The horizontal cuts 175L are spaced from the endsof the transverse cut 176L to provide frangible portions 1781.. Thelabel material 179 is provided with transverse cuts 33g to provide thelabels 36g. The composite'web 30G has short, straight transverse cuts180' in each marginal side edge of the labels 363. There are, however,no cuts in the marginal side edges of the supporting material 177. It ispreferred to use the composite'web'30G with the driver 47 with itsteeth48which are shaped in the manner best shown in FIGS. 7 and. 8rather than teeth 166 of a triangular shape as shown in FIG. 24.

In the embodiment of FIG. 28, there is shown a composite web 301-1having groups 38h of cuts regularly spaced apart intervals. Each group38h of cuts has a short transverse out 1818 and apair of converging cuts1828 in the web ofsupporting material 183. The leading ends of the cuts1828, are in transverse alignment with the transverse cut 181$. The onecut 182$ is spaced from the one end of the out 1818 to provide a foldline 1835. The other out 182$ is spaced apart from the other end of thetransverse cut 181$ to provide a fold line 1848. The other ends of thecuts 182$ are spaced apart to provide a frangible portion 185$. Cuts1811. and 182L are provided in web of label material 186 in alignmentwith respective cuts 181$ and 182$ in the supporting material 183. Thecuts 1811., 182L, and short straight transverse cuts 187 serve toprevent switching of the labels when applied to merchandise. In theembodiment of FIG. 28 it is preferred that each group 38h of cuts bedisposed between the end edges of labels 36h defined by transverse cuts33h. As shown in FIG. 29, toothed driver 47e shows a tooth 166, whichhas ruptured the frangibleportion 185$ in supporting material 183, indriving engagement with the supporting material 183. It is evident thatflap 188$ folds along each cuts 1818 and the respective fold lines 1835and 184$. To insure rupturing of the frangible portion 185$, the lengthof the frangible portion 185$ is about one-half as long as the fold line1838 and one-half as long as the fold line 184$. The lengths of the foldlines 1838 and 1848 and the cut 1818 are equal.

Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 30, there is pro vided a compositeweb 30K having groups 38k of cuts. Each group 38k of cuts includescurvilinear cuts 1978 in a web of supporting material 198. The one endsof the cuts 1975 are spaced apart by a relatively substantial distancetransversely of the composite web 30K. The other ends of the cuts 1978are spaced apart only a relatively small distance by a frangible portion1985. The group 38kof cuts also includes curvilinear cuts 197L in web oflabel material 199. The cuts 197L are,

in alignment with the cuts 1978 in the supporting material 198.Transverse cuts 33k in the label material 199 define the ends of thelabels 36k. The cuts 1971. and cuts 200 in the label material 199 serveto prevent switching of the labels once they have been applied tomerchandise.

With reference to FIG. 31, the toothed driver 472 is shown to be indriving engagement with the web of supporting material 198. One of theteeth 166 is shown to have ruptured the frangible portion 198$ and to bein driving engagement with the supporting material 198.

FIG. 32 shows an embodiment of a composite web 30L which is identical tothe embodiment of FIG. 9, except that acomposite web 301. is shown tohave an additional group 381 of cuts between the marginal end edges oflabels 361 formed by transverse cuts 331. In addition, each label 361 isshown to have two short transverse cuts 201 at each marginal side edge.

FIG. 33 shows a composite web 30M of labels which is identical to thecomposite web shown in FIG. 23, ex-

more difficult to switch once they have been applied to merchandise,they are less effective in this connection than would be the case as inthe embodimentof FIG. 9, for example. FIG. 36 is a view similar to FIG.35 showing where the longitudinal cut is made partially through thelabel material 204 by perforating instead of completely cutting throughthe label material as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 9 or asopposed to the partial cutting through the label material 202 asdisclosed in FIGS. 34 and 35. Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 36,composite web 30? has the group 38 p of cuts entirely through supportingmaterial 205 and through the label material 204 at spaced apartlocations leaving tangs or lands 206 or the like between through-cuts207.

It is within the scope of the invention to make the cuts 33, 39L, 39S,40L, 41L, 41S, L, 90S, 911., 918, 92L, 92S, 330, L, 1008, L, 1108, 33e',L, 1208, 33c, L, 160$, 163L, 1638, 33f, 169L, 169$, 171L, 1718, 33g,175L, 175$, 176L, 176$, 33h, 181L, 1818, 1821a, 1828, 33k, 197L, 1975,and 331, by means of scoring, perforating or the like instead of bycompletely cutting through the respective label or supporting material.It is, however, preferred to make each of those cuts which is to definea feed edge a through out rather than a score or perforation cut.

Referring now to a label printing and applying apparatus generallyindicated at 210 in the embodiment of FIGS. 37 through 62, and initiallyto FIG. 37, there is shown to be a housing or main frame generallyindicated at 211. The housing or frame 211 is specifically shown toinclude a pair of frame sections 212 and 213. Disposed within thehousing 211 is a subframe generally indicated at 214 which comprises apair of subframe sections 215 and 216. The frame sections 212 and 213mount a platen 217 which includes a peel edge 218. A print headgenerally indicated at 219 is mounted by the subframe 214. Morespecifically, the print head 219 includes a plurality of selectablesettable printing members 220 in the form of endless printing bandsmounted by a print head frame 221. Extendcept that an additional group38m of cuts is provided 202 as best shown in FIG. 35. It is alsoapparent from FIG. 35 that the group 38n of cuts extend entirely throughthe supporting material 203. While the construction shown in FIGS. 34and 35 does substantially weaken the label material so as to render thelabels 36n ing from the frame 221 are a pair of flanges 222 and 223.Gear sections or specifically racks 224 and 225 are provided at the endsof the respective flanges 222 and 223. Opposed tracks 226 and 227 areformed on the respective flanges 222 and 223 to receive straight ballbearings 228 and 229. The subframe sections 215 and 216 have respectivetracks 230 and 231. The ball bearing 228 is received in the track 226 ofthe flange 222 and in the track 230, and the ball bearing 229is receivedin the track 227 in the flange 223 and in the track 231. The ballbearings 228 and 229 have respective balls 228' and 229 rotatably heldby respective tangs or holders 228" and 229". In this manner, the printhead 219 is mounted for movement, particularly reciprocating movement,toward and away from the platen 217.

The housing 211 has a handle generally indicated at 232 and particularlyeach housing or frame section 212 and 213 has a respective handleportion 233 and 234. An operator generally indicated at 235 is shown tocomprise a pivotally operated lever 236 pivotally mounted by a post 237at the lower end of the handle 232. The lever 236 is normally urged in acounterclockwise direction (FIG. 37) by a torsion spring 238 re- .ceivedabout the post 237. The pivotal movement of the lever 236 is limited byan adjustable stop block 239

1. Method of dispensing labels, comprising the steps of: providing aplurality of labels releasably secured by pressure sensitive adhesive toa web of supporting material, the web having spaced apart groups of cutsdisposed within the edges of the web, each group of cuts comprising atleast two cuts spaced apart by a frangible portion, one of the cuts ofeach group providing a feed edge, causing the web to undergo a sharpchange in direction at a delaminating zone where the labels aresuccessively delaminated from the web, guiding the delaminated part ofthe web into cooperation with a toothed driver, severing the frangibleportion by advancing a tooth of the toothed driver into engagement withthe feed edge, and pulling on the delaminated part of the web bycontinuing the advance of the toothed driver to effect delamination of alabel at the delaminating zone.
 2. Method of dispensing labels,comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of labels releasablysecured by pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of supporting material,the web having spaced apart groups of cuts disposed within the edges ofthe web, each group of cuts comprising a transverse cut providing a feededge and a longitudinal cut spaced apart by a frangible portion, causingthe web to undergo a sharp change in direction at a delaminating zonewhere the labels are successively delaminated from the web, guiding thedelaminated part of the web into cooperation with a toothed driver,severing the frangible portion by advancing a tooth of the tootheddriver into engagement with the feed edge, and pulling on thedelaminated part of the web by continuing the advance of the tootheddriver to effect delamination of a label at the delaminating zone.